The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-08-11
MECHANICAL AUTOMATIC.
Some Of ths Productions Of Peculiar Line Of
Genius.

Genius.
". r. H. in Boston Herald.
There are many wonderful things
told by various writer's OF the invent
I've genius OF different persons, and de-
scriptions are given of the way in
which this genius has been expended
upon triies. Philip Camus describes
an extraordinary automaton group
that was gotten up for the entertain.
ment of Louis XIV. 1t consisted of a
coach and horses-what would be des-
ignated nowadays first-class turn
out. It's road was table, and at
starting the coachman cracked his
whip and the horses commenced to
prance; then subsiding into a long
trot, they continued until the whole
equipage was opposite where the king
sat. The whole thing then stopped, a
footman dismounted from the foot
board, opened the door and handed out
~ lady, who courtesying gracefully, Of.
fered a petition to his majesty and
reentered the carriage. The footman
once more resumed his place on the
footboard, the whip cracked, the
horses pranced and again went on the
long trot.
Some of the stories respecting mu
slcal automata are no less remark
able, in the Encyclopaedia Methodi-
que," D'Alembert gives an account OF
a gigantic flute player. 1t stood on a
pedestal in which some of the works
were arranged, and, not only blow in
to the flute, but, with his lips, increas-
ed or diminished the tones it forced
out of the instrument, performing the
legato and staccato passages perfectly.
The lingering was also very accurate.
This marvellous f1utist was exhibited
in Paris in 1888, and was made by
Jacques Vaucanson, the prince OF
automaton contriveIs. He la
bored under many disadvantages
in constructing this marvellous
figure. A skeptic uncle, with others,
for some years laughed at all his pro-
jects. At last he seemed to be favor
ed in a singular way. He had a
severe illness and he took advantage
of it to contrive the automaton he
had SO long dreamed of. This took
place at Grenoble, and, as Vaucanson
designed each portion OF the figure,
he sent it to be made by different
workman, SO that no one could find
out the principle OF his invention.
When the pieces came home he put
them together, and when the whole
was completed, with the aid of a serv-
ant, he crawled out of bed. Tremb.
ling with anxiety he wound up the
works. As the first sound came from
the flute the servant, who had been q
go. between with the various mechan-
ics, fell upon his knees and began to
worship his master as something more
than mortal. They both embraced
and wept for Joy to the time of the
tune the figure was playing. None oil
Vaucanson' imitators have been able
to accomplish what he did in the way
of modifying sound by the action OF
the lips, although several f1ute-play-
ing puppets have since been made.
More than forty years ago there was
| an exhibition in London OF two life
sized mechanical figures that perform
ed duets. Incredulous visitors would
place their fingers on the holes OF the
flute to convince themselves that the
puppets really supplied the wind which
caused the flutes to discourse such ex-
| cellent music. At Vienna, in 1909,
| Maelzel, the inventor of the metro
! nome, exhibited an automatic trum-
peter as large as life, and it performed
with surprising accuracy and power.
The audience first saw on entering the
room tent. Soon the curtains open
ed and Ma aelzel appeared, leading
the trumpeter attired in the
| full uniform of an Austrian
dragon. He then pressed the left ep-
aulett of the figure and it not only
sounded all the cavalry calls then in
use, but played a march and an al
legro by WeiQl, which was accompan-
led by a full band of living musicians.
The figure then retired and reappeared
in the dress of a trumpeter of the
French guard. The inventor wound
| it up on the left hip. Another touch
on the left shoulder, and forth from
the trumpet, in succession, came all
the French cavalry calls, the French
cavalry march by Dussek, and one oi
| PleyePs allegrOs, again accompan'
led by the orchestra. 1t has been de-
clared that the tones produced by
MaelzePs automaton were even fuller
and richer than those produced by
human lips and lungs, because a
mans breath imparts to the inside oi
the instrument a moisture which In
jures the tone.
Vaucanson had never been outdone.
He made a figure which played a flag.
eolet with one hand while he struck a
tambourine with the other, but he
achieved thegreates wonders in imitat.
ing animals. He made a duck which
became the wonder of the world. He
initiated nature in every particular.
All the bones, fibres and organs were
SO accurately made and fitted that
the mechanical duck waddled about
in search of grain, and, when he found
it, picked it up and swallowed it. In
fact, this wonderful duck, many writ
ers state, could not be distinguished
from living duck. 1t would muddle
the water with its beak. drink and
quack true to life. Vaucanson formed
insects as well as men and animals.
One of the most notable specimens
of mechanical automata was exhibit
ed at Boulogne in the year 1851,
It was the work of jeweler, who
devoted eight years of his life to the
perfection OF clock-worker conjurer,
Dressed in eastern costume, this ne
cromaucer stood behind table, Gov
cred, as the tables of professors oi
legerdemain generally are, with vari-
GUS little boxes and cabinets, from
which he took the articles he used
during the exhibition. He produced
the goblets and showed the balls un-
der them in the most approved style.
Then he conjured one or two into a
place q moment before vacant. Pres.
emily they disappeared again and were
continually separated and brought
together again. Atevery exclamation
of the spectators the little conjurer
turned his head from side to side as il
looking round the house, cast his eyes
modestly down, bowed and resumed